Chapter 356
Zheng Fa shook his head. "It's not that I'm trying to save money on purpose. On the other hand, I want to save some time. Mainly, I have a way to meet the energy requirements of a large particle collider with relatively simple equipment."
He was, of course, referring to Lei Fa.
"Well..." Team Leader Yang pondered for a long time before presenting her plan. "We can divide the project into three phases, conducting experiments while upgrading. That way, we won't delay either side..."
"That sounds good... Can you make that decision, Team Leader Yang?"
"Director Zheng, I'm currently riding on the coattails of the fox, feeling quite powerful," Team Leader Yang chuckled, candidly admitting that she had already begun to see herself as part of the retirement home.
Zheng Fa couldn't help but glance at her.
Team Leader Yang continued, "Director Zheng, actually, I did some research later on—collaborating with you would benefit the country as well."
Zheng Fa was taken aback.
"This particle collider is quite an investment, and once built, we naturally want to pursue experimental results. Now that we're building a large one, combined with your techniques..." Team Leader Yang said, "Wouldn't that allow us to achieve some experiments that were previously impossible?"
"This is a win-win situation!"
Zheng Fa was momentarily stunned, then he slapped his forehead. He had indeed been thinking too narrowly—just like the planned controllable nuclear fusion elixir, technology could assist in cultivation, so why couldn't cultivation help technology?
Old Bai sighed, "Now that you mention it, that's true. Team Leader Yang, you really think things through."
Team Leader Yang smiled triumphantly. "As the head of the liaison team, it's my job to think about how to benefit both sides."
She glanced at Cheng Yun, her expression clearly saying—though I may not have your luck, I rely on my brains!
Cheng Yun gently pushed up his nonexistent glasses and pulled a hard drive from his backpack...
Team Leader Yang's expression froze as she suddenly remembered—oh no, Cheng Yun is the one who relies on his brains!
Sure enough.
Cheng Yun spoke up, "Director, over the past six months, based on the experimental results of the Shenxiao external elixir, we've optimized the other eleven Golden Elixir methods."
Zheng Fa's eyes lit up as he took the hard drive, appearing even happier than before.
Team Leader Yang bit her lip in frustration.
"I've also made quite a few discoveries in my Golden Elixir cultivation. I'll share them with you later."
Zheng Fa said warmly to Cheng Yun. Having personally condensed a Golden Elixir, he naturally had some new insights to contribute to perfecting the "Golden Elixir Project."
More importantly... he still hadn't figured out what the "Nine Turns Golden Elixir Method" was all about.
Cheng Yun's research couldn't stop; it would likely be of great use in the future.
Seeing this, Team Leader Yang couldn't help but feel disheartened, while Cheng Yun couldn't hide his pride. Just then, the sound of brakes echoed from outside.
The group froze as they saw Old Hou step out of a car.
Team Leader Yang and Cheng Yun exchanged glances, understanding—someone who truly mattered to Zheng Fa had arrived!
Sure enough, as soon as Old Hou entered, Zheng Fa's smile widened... He wasn't one to treat people differently, but he recalled Tang Lingwu's earlier secrecy, as if the Jiushan Grain Company had made some progress and was being all mysterious about it.
He was, of course, a bit excited.
Old Hou entered and winked at Tang Lingwu, seemingly finding it amusing.
Like Cheng Yun, he also carried a backpack that looked quite heavy. He placed it on the stone table in the pavilion, unzipped it, and Zheng Fa could see—inside were about a dozen brand new books.
"What’s this?"
"This past six months, we couldn't plant in the spirit fields, but organizing past experimental data was no trouble," Old Hou chuckled. "So, with a little help from Xiao Tang and some other experts, we compiled a set of agricultural textbooks suitable for a spiritual environment." He continued, "Of course, we still don't know much about spiritual plants, but this set includes our previous findings and summarizes modern theories applicable to a spiritual environment."
"If there are new discoveries in the future, we can revise this edition."
Zheng Fa's smile deepened as he flipped through the dozen or so books, noticing they were categorized, from "Botany" to "Genetics of Spiritual Plants"... and discussions on genes.
Looking at the content, it was almost all-encompassing, something Old Hou alone couldn't have accomplished.
Although Old Hou had previously provided some summary discussions that benefited Jiushan Sect, a systematic textbook suitable for a spiritual environment had never been compiled—mainly due to lack of time.
Over the past six months, perhaps with nothing much to do and a wealth of experimental data, he had naturally compiled this set of books under Tang Lingwu's organization.
He couldn't help but glance at Tang Lingwu, who was sparkling with excitement—her eyes filled with youthful affection.
Zheng Fa felt a warmth in his heart.
Old Bai scoffed, muttering, "What indifference? As long as it's a man, even if he becomes an immortal, he'll still have human feelings."
Team Leader Yang glanced at Tang Lingwu, shaking her head, thinking Old Bai was wrong—women could be moved too!
...
In Jiushan Realm, Zheng Fa said to Senior Sister Zhang and the others, "I plan to reply to the Hundred Immortals Alliance, saying we agree to provide a venue for their Hundred Immortals Conference."
Senior Sister Zhang nodded, not asking any questions.
However, Uncle Pang frowned and said, "Why so? Didn't we say that Jiang Chengkong might have ulterior motives?"
"It's not just the Hundred Immortals Alliance... I'm preparing to open Jiushan Realm to the outside world to a limited extent," Zheng Fa said slowly. "Jiushan Realm is truly impoverished, and the planned Economic Development Island... needs to get moving."
Farming is farming, but the saying "no business, no wealth" has always held true.
Uncle Pang nodded slightly.
"Now I also have methods to improve the other eleven Golden Elixirs, but the resources in the sect are insufficient..."
Zheng Fa explained further.
With the method for condensing the Golden Elixir, he naturally wanted to try refining some external elixirs first, and once that was done, it would be time for those foundation-building disciples to condense their Golden Elixirs.
The resources required were not a small amount.
Years ago, Senior Sister Zhang had quarreled with Uncle Pang's disciples over this...
Uncle Pang suddenly realized, his face a mix of joy and sorrow, unsure of what to say—he had never imagined Jiushan Sect would face such troubles...
"My Jiushan Sect's specialties are few now... but we still have advantages: drama, a safe environment, thunder-type spiritual materials, and even our own refined external elixirs... all of which can be sold."
Zheng Fa shared his thoughts.
"A safe environment..." Uncle Pang stroked his chin, understanding Zheng Fa's meaning, "You want to charge rent?"
Zheng Fa nodded and looked at Senior Sister Zhang, saying, "I plan to start with the Hundred Immortals Alliance."
Ultimately, Zheng Fa was preparing to rent a venue for the Hundred Immortals Conference...
If successful, it would help establish a reputation, and he planned to develop Jiushan Realm into a mobile neutral marketplace—regarding returning to the Hundred Immortals Alliance, Zheng Fa wasn't even considering it; would he go back to play a deadly game with the Great Freedom Demon Sect?
"As for Jiang Chengkong, we might as well see what he wants to do."
Senior Sister Zhang nodded gently, agreeing with Zheng Fa's idea: "People like him... can't be avoided; it would only raise his suspicions..."
"The Hundred Immortals Conference has always attracted many external experts to attend... I'm planning to hold an auction for the external elixirs we've refined and the treasures obtained from the Tianhe Ruins, taking this opportunity to sell them."
"In that case, it does seem feasible."
Uncle Pang thought it over and found the idea quite good.
After discussing with them, Zheng Fa sent a message to the Hundred Immortals Alliance from his sleeve.
...
At Tongming Mountain.
Tongming Shangren received Zheng Fa's message and sighed after reading it.
One of his disciples asked, "Master?"
"Zheng Fa sent a message back, and he was quite polite, saying it would be an honor to host the Hundred Immortals Conference..."
"Then why do you sigh, Master?"
"They want money."
"..." The disciple held back for a long time before speaking, "How can they do this? We're all on the same side..."
"They don't see it that way..." Tongming Shangren pondered for a moment and sighed.
"Could it be they still hold a grudge?"
"A grudge? I don't think so; it seems they're just being businesslike now," Tongming Shangren reflected.
The disciple fell silent, realizing that this attitude truly indicated they no longer considered themselves part of the Hundred Immortals Alliance.
"Then why should we..." the disciple began.
"Is this something we can decide?" Tongming Shangren shot him a look, shaking his head. "Aren't we just following Jiang Chengkong's orders? By the way... is that Jiang Chengkong still tinkering with his spiritual bamboo?"
The disciple nodded, a strange smile on his face. "The Qingmu Sect and Baicao Sect have tried every method, yet they're still at a loss with that spiritual bamboo..."
Tongming Shangren shook his head as well. The Qingmu Sect is the most skilled in alchemy within the Hundred Immortals Alliance, and the Baicao Sect knows a great deal about spiritual plants and trees... Their keen interest in that spiritual bamboo clearly aimed to curry favor with Jiang Chengkong.
In fact, this strategy was indeed correct.
Jiang Chengkong had come to the Hundred Immortals Alliance, but most of his energy was focused on that nearly yellowing spiritual bamboo.
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